DJT Wipes Out the Voice of America

Donald Trump signed an executive order to gut the Voice of America and other government operated pro-democracy programming.

Friday night shortly after the Senate passed its continuing resolution to keep the government running but cede much of Congress’ power to Trump, he ordered several agencies cut to the bare legal minimum.

Most notable among the agencies is the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is the umbrella over Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and Asia, and Radio Marti for news broadcasts into Cuba in Spanish. Together, these outlets reach about 427 million people, focusing on delivering news to people in authoritarian countries. They are among the USA’s best known, most respected and most effective levers of global influence.

Saturday morning Kari Lake, a senior adviser to that agency, used Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) to tell agency employees to check email. Practically all Voice of America staff had been placed on paid administrative leave and ordered to turn in agency equipment such as phones or computes. (Lake is most widely known for failing in her electoral runs for Arizona governor and U.S. Senator.)

Click here for more details.

Statement posted by Michael Joshua Abramowitz, head of VOA:

I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced.

I learned this morning that virtually the entire staff of Voice of America

—more than 1300 journalists, producers and support staff

—has been placed on administrative leave today. So have I.

VOI needs thoughtful reform, and we have made progress in that regard. But today’s action will leave Voice of America unable to carry out its vital mission. That mission is especially critical today, when America’s adversaries, like Iran, China, and Russia, are sinking billions of dollars into creating false narratives to discredit the United States.

VOA promotes freedom and democracy around the world by telling America’s story and by providing objective and balanced news and information, especially for those living under tyranny. Even if the agency survives in some form, the actions being taken today by the Administration will severely damage Voice of America’s ability to foster a world that is safe and free and in doing so is failing to protect U.S. interests.

For more than 80 years, Voice of America has been a priceless asset for the United States, playing an essential role in the fight against communism, fascism, and oppression, and in the fight for freedom and democracy around the world. Today, VOA reaches more than 360 million people every week, in 48 languages. In many dictatorships. VOA is often the only reliable source of news and information.

I salute the amazing staff of Voice of America. Many of them came to America from authoritarian countries where they were not able to practice journalism freely. It is inspiring to be their leader, and they have my deep respect and appreciation for doing theri part to advance freedom and democracy.